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THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

Posted by: In: Other 15 Apr 2022 Comments: 0

THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.

346-The Velvelettes-Needle In A Haystack.

1964-Has never charted in the UK.

Best Bit-At 1.13. Another song we can thank the Northern Soul fraternity for.

It is hard to believe that a song of this high quality has never sold enough copies to reach the UK chart, although it was their most successful song in America when reaching Number 45 on Billboard, the song was most successful in Canada where it made Number 27.If it hadn’t been for the fans of Northern Soul music (see also best songs 969) latching on to it the chances are it would have slipped away into obscurity, but due to it’s popularity it can be found on several Northern Soul compilations. On a personal note I have been playing the song at numerous functions for well over 40 years, and it is probably my most played and popular track that has never been a chart hit.

The Velvelettes probably didn’t receive the attention, and promotion needed to take them to the top, as Motown had what they considered bigger fish to fry with their other girl groups such as the Supremes,(see also best songs 1001-411-212 and 148) and Martha and the Vandellas (see also best songs 948.) The Velvelettes were formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1961 by Bertha Barbee McNeal, and Mildred Gill Arbor, who at the time were both students at Western Michigan University. They were soon joined by Mildred’s sister Carolyn, and then Norma Barbee, who was Bertha’s cousin, and finally Carolyn’s friend Betty Kelley, who made up the original quintet. It was fellow classmate Robert Bullock who was Berry Gordy’s nephew who arranged for the girls to audition for Motown, eventually leading to them signing to the Motown subsidiary ‘VIP Records.’ By 1967 Gill, Norma and Bertha had left the group, and had been replaced by Sandra Tilley (1945 or 1946-1981) and Annette McMillan. The Velvelettes remained active until 1971, but some members did re-unite in 1984 to record for ‘Motorcity Records’, and still tour at the time of writing. The Velvelettes never released an Album on Motown, although one was lined up for release. They had six singles released by Motown, with the 1972 re-release of their 1966 single ‘These Things Will Keep Me Loving You,’ being their most successful in the UK when reaching Number 34.

‘Needle In A Haystack’ was co-written, and co-produced by William ‘Mickey’ Stevenson,(see also best songs 948) and the legendary Norman Whitfield (1940-2008) Stevenson was head of the A&R department at Motown during the ‘glory years’ of the mid 1960’s, he was also responsible for organising, and establishing Motown’s in house studio band the Funk Brothers. Norman Whitfield (see also best songs 911-777-569-533-480 and 233) who would go on to be very influential in the development of Psychedelic Soul in the late 1960’s, and is the writer, or co-writer of 92 hits on Billboard, and 61 in the UK.

A ‘needle in a haystack’ is the representation of something that is very hard to find. The Velvelettes are telling us of their own personal experiences of dating boys. They warn other girls that trustworthy guys are very hard to find, in fact as hard to find as finding a needle in a haystack.

‘Girls, those fellas are sly, slick and shy, so don’t you ever let ’em get you starry eyed. Well, you may think their love is true, but they’ll walk right over you.’